Voting-booth



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. K. PLUMBLY. VOTING BOOTH.

PatentedJuly 26, 1892.

Inventor Witnesses:

(No Modem 5 sheets-sheet 2.

P. K. PLUMBLY.

VOTING BOOTH. No. 479,458. Patented July 26, 1892.

Witnesses: Inventor (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

11.7K. PLUMBLY.

VTING BOOTH.

No. 479,458. Patented Ju1y.,.26, 1892.

Witnesses: Inventor mi noms 57ans cos, moro-uma. wAsmNaTou n c (No Model.) y 5 Shet=Sheet 4. F. K. PLUMBLY.

VOTING BOOTH.

No. 479,458. Patented July 26, 1,892.

L l Wltnesses: Inventor JM .f5 0W- 'arnsys.

(-No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

F. K. PLUMBLY. A

VOTING BOOTH.

No. 479,458. Patented July 26, 1892.

Flew. t

Witnesses: Inventor sem UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK K. PLUMBLY, OF BUFFALO, NEIV YORK.

VOTING-BOOTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,458, dated J' uly 26, 1892.

Application filed June 29, 1891. Serial No. 397,895. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom tpm/ay concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK K. PLUMBLY, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Booths; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has general reference to improvementsin knockdown portable votingbooths and the like; and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved structure. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, the roof and its center and supporting poles being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation in line e z of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of a fragment of the siding of my structure. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the same in line :1; of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the door-frame. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the same in lineyyof Fig. 6. Fig. S is a plan of my structure, showing the same ofoval form and the roof with the center and supporting poles removed.

Similar letters of reference are used to designate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

The object of this invention is the production of a simple and cheap knockdown portable voting-booth. To attain this result, I construct this structure of preferably circular form and support the same upon timbers a, Figs. `l andV 3. Upon these timbers rest Hoor-sills a', to which the door B is secured. This iioor is composed of sections b, so that it may be readily taken apart for shipment or storage. Around the outer edge of this lioor and secured to the under side thereof are segmental strips b', Figs. l and 3, to support the side of the structure. This side is composed of sheets of iron C, the lower edges of which rest upon the strips h', before mentioned, and are fastened or connected together along their longitudinal edges by battens c c', Figs. 1, 3, and 5, on their outside, as well as inside of the structure, respectively. Through these battens are passed bolts c to hold the battens and the edges of the iron in close contact, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4. and 5.

In the side of the structure a door-frame D is placed, the width of which equals one of the sheets of iron C, and when in position takes the place of one of the sheets thereof, as hereinafter more fully set forth. There are located in the side of the structure window-frames D wherever desired.

Upon the upper edges of the sheets of iron C rests a ring E, the cross-section of which is of substantially L shape, Fig. 3, so that it rests upon the edges of the iron with its horizontal portion and forms a backing for the iron with the vertical portion, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This ring E is composed of sections E', (to be taken apart to facilitate shipment,) having overlapping ends e, so that they can be secured together by bolts e', passing through the same.

In the circumference of the horizontal portion of the ring E are located hooks d, Fig. 3, to which the lower edge of a canvas roof F is fastened. This roof is of conical form and is provided at its apex with a ventilator G. The apex of the roof is supported bya center pole F', engaging said ventilator, which is supported by a socket G on said pole and engaging a stopf on the same, Figs. l and 3. This socket is supported by brace-rods F, the opposite ends of which are notched and rest upon the ring E, as illustrated in said Fig. 3.

In the interior of the structure opposite the door-frame D is secured to the iioor a railing N, Fig. 2, to form entrance as Well as exit passages P Q to and from the interior of the structure. In the interior of this structure opposite the railing N and arranged radially from the sides of the said structure is a series of voting-stalls, and which consist of the partition-Walls l-I, having the vertical battens t secured to their outside edges. hese partition-walls are toe-nailed or otherwise removably fastened to the floor B and to each other by the shelves h, which are suitably fastened to each partition-wall, so as to make astructure within the booth, which is almost independent thereof and which can be readily re- IOO moved therefrom. ln the openings between the fronts of the partition-walls are located doors J, Fig. 3, which are hinged to the battens t by hingesj. Near the upper ends of the battens 1I are secured connectingrails I, connecting the battens e' ofthe several partitions together, thereby making the structure more secure. It will now be observed that this interior structure is only employed when the booth is used for voting purposes.

The door-frame D, Figs. 6 and 7, before mentioned, consists, essentially, ofthe facing K K', having on its back strips k k, Fig. 7, nailed thereto, there being formed a groove 7a" between said strips and facing for the reception of the edges of the iron C. The doorframe is further provided with the lock-rail L and the top rail L" and the transom Z, while at lthe lower extremity is the threshold L. This door-frame has fastened to its upper end one of the sections E of the ring E. The grooves k between the facing K K and the strips 7c k', into which the longitudinal edge of the adjoining iron lits, take the place of the battens c c', as well as the bolts c".

The window-frames D are similarly constructed; but, instead of a threshold, are provided with window-sills Z at a proper height from the floor. The space between the facing K K below the sills is filled in with iron panels M.

In the erection of my structure I proceed as follows: The bottom timbers a, are first laid at the proper distance apart and level with each other. The sills a are then laid across the timbers a and the floor-sections b screwed thereto. The door-frame D is now placed in position perfectly level and perpendicular to the floor and removably fastened with its lower end to the edge of the ioor B, after which the first section E' is bolted to the section on the door. The first sheet of iron C is now placed adjoining the door, with its edge in the groove 7a", and nailed at its lower end to the edge of the iioor and with its upper extremity to the section. The second section E is now bolted to the first, after which the second sheet of iron is nailed or otherwise removably fastened in position, but with its vertical edge a slight distance apart from the adjacent edge of theprcvioussheet. This process is continued until the entire side is erected, it being borne in mind that windowframes are placed in position in a similar manner, except that the edges of the adjacent iron on each side are entered into the grooves inthe edges provided for them. After the side is erected the battens c c are placed in position and then bolted in place. The edges of the canvas roof are now hooked over the l hooks d on the ring E, after which the pole F' vand supports are erected.

In many instances I may employ an iron roof instead of one of canvas. Such a construction wonld be an equivalent of the present and within the scope of my invention.

In Fig. S I have illustrated a building of oblong form having rounded ends with flat sides. This form of booth is preferable in many cases, and I may, if desired, employ such a form. 0

This structure is well adapted for use as summer cottages and the like,inasmuch as it is comparatively cheap and can be erected with but a small force of men and with very few tools. Furthermore, it is easily knocked down and can be compactly stowed away during the winter months. It is also well adapted for use as voting-booths in compliance with the Australian Ballot Reform Law recently enacted by certain States--in fact, the present structure having been especially designed for this purpose.

The shape of the booth shown in Fig. 8 is designed for cities having comparatively narrow streets and in which the circular booth would obstruct the roadway too much.

It will be observed that the window-frames f are interchangeable, so that they may be placed in the side wherever desired.

In the manufacture of this structurel prefer to use corrugated galvanized iron for the sides, for the reason that corrugated iron is stiffer than flat iron, and therefore not so liable to bend and buckle in putting up, and, furthermore, galvanized iron requires less paint to preserve the same and prevent it from rusting.

I-laving thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. A knockdown building consisting, essentially, of the sills, the floor having the segmental strips secured on its under side around the edge thereof, a side consisting of sheets of ironsupported by said strips and secured to said floor, a ring resting upon the upper edge of the side and forming a backing for the same with its vertical portion, battens on the outside and inside of the side overlapping the contiguous edges of the sheets of iron and secured together by bolts, and aroof secured to said ring and supported therefrom, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the sills, of the Iioor secured thereto, the segmental strips secured around the edge of said floor, the side secured with its lower end to said fioor and resting on said strips, a ring resting upon the upper edge of the side and to which said side is secured, said ring being composed of sections, a door-frame located in said side and formed integral with one of said sections, and a roof secured to said ring and supported therefrom, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the circular structure, of a conical canvas roof removably secured with its lower end to the upper end of said structure, a ventilator at the apex of said roof, a pole engaging said Ventilator and supporting the same and the apex of the roof, a stop in said pole, a socket on said pole en- IOO IIO

gaging said stop, and supporting-braces from the top of said structure supporting said socket, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the floor and side, of a door-frame D, a groove in each vertical edge for the reception of the contiguous edges of the sheets of iron adjoining said frame, the section E of the ring E, secured to the upper edge of said door, and the remaining sections E', secured together, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the timbers d, of the sills d', resting upon the same, the ioor secured to said sills a', the strips b secured on the under side of the said iloor and proj eating beyond the edge thereof, the side resting upon said strips and nailed to the edge of the floor, the door in said sido, and the roof secured to the upper end of the side, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK K. PLUMBLY.

Attest:

MICHAEL J. STARK, WM. O. STARK. 

